Barry Baker

Loves journalism, is not a journalist. Loves politics, is not a politician. Loves the media, is not a medium. Barry is committed to helping the world become a more interesting place with Power of Opinion.

August 09, 2007

Debris Field Grows in Ottawa as New Arar Details Revealed

The Arar Commission released previously censored details today of Report of the Events Relating to Maher Arar by Commissioner Dennis O'Connor. The new details reveal that Canadian security officials suspected that Maher Arar would be tortured following his deportation from the US to Jordan, then Syria, but did nothing.

The Arar Commission secured the release of these new details after Federal Court Judge Simon Noël’s ruled against the Government of Canada, which had argued that the information should remain censored for reasons of national security. Commission Counsel Paul Cavalluzzo congratulated the government for its decision not to pursue the matter further, saying, “The government should be commended for its decision not to appeal this judgment. The public interest is served by finally closing the book on the Arar Report."

An updated copy of the report is available here (newly uncensored words are in bold).

Mr. Arar was arrested in September while traveling through the US to Canada following a family vacation in Tunisia. Project A-O - the RCMP’s anti-terrorism investigation - opened dialogue regarding Arar with the CIA on October 4, 2002 whereas previously it had been dealing exclusively with the FBI on what it had been previously been considered a criminal matter.

The most damning aspect of the report however, focuses on internal CSIS communications that transpired on October 10 and 11, 2002:

In October 2002, CSIS officials knew that the United States might have sent Mr. Arar to a country where he could be questioned in a “firm manner.” In a report to his superiors dated October 11, 2002, the CSIS security liaison officer (SLO) in Washington spoke of a trend they had noted lately that when the CIA or FBI cannot legally hold a terrorist subject, or wish a target questioned in a firm manner, they have them rendered to countries willing to fulfill that role. He said Mr. Arar was a case in point.

On October 10, 2002, Mr. Hooper stated in a memorandum: “I think the U.S. would like to get Arar to Jordan where they can have their way with him.”

It is obvious these people knew Arar - who became a Canadian citizen in 1991 - would be tortured. Many Kamloopsians had the opportunity to meet Mr. Ara while he lived in Kamloops with his family. I never actually met the man, but upon those occasions when I did encounter him (wandering around Home Depot or just standing in the same line at the grocery store with our respective children playing at our feet), I couldn't help imagining myself in that Syrian prison, abandoned by my own government. However our Canadian security agencies demonstrated a sickening lack of concern for Mr. Arar's welfare, and so he languished there until October of 2003.

The affair has left a trail of debris in Ottawa, and rightly so. RCMP Commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli resigned in December after providing conflicting testimony to Parliament about the case, and Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a letter of apology to Mr. Arar in January of this year.

When asked about the new details in Yellowknife today, the Prime Minister pointed the finger at the Leader of the Official Opposition. “Let's be clear,” said Mr. Harper, “we're talking about events that occurred under the previous government …those questions would be best directed to Mr. Dion.”

I can't imagine that the Prime Minister really thinks the debris field will spread to include Mr. Dion, who as Minister of Federal Intergovernmental Affairs and President of the Privy Council at the time of Arar's detainment and torture, was very probably not in the loop. The Commission has found no evidence that either Canadian security agency shared their suspicions of torture with the Liberal government of the day. However, the longer this issue holds the interest of Canadians, the longer Mr. Dion and company will face questions be held off-message.

But if we leave politics aside for a moment, I'm still left scratching my head at the CSIS and RCMP behaviour around the whole mess. What’s your take? Click on "Comments" below to share your thoughts with Right Up Your Alley: Kamloops readers.

Comments

Debris Field Grows in Ottawa as New Arar Details Revealed

The Arar Commission released previously censored details today of Report of the Events Relating to Maher Arar by Commissioner Dennis O'Connor. The new details reveal that Canadian security officials suspected that Maher Arar would be tortured following his deportation from the US to Jordan, then Syria, but did nothing.

The Arar Commission secured the release of these new details after Federal Court Judge Simon Noël’s ruled against the Government of Canada, which had argued that the information should remain censored for reasons of national security. Commission Counsel Paul Cavalluzzo congratulated the government for its decision not to pursue the matter further, saying, “The government should be commended for its decision not to appeal this judgment. The public interest is served by finally closing the book on the Arar Report."

An updated copy of the report is available here (newly uncensored words are in bold).

Mr. Arar was arrested in September while traveling through the US to Canada following a family vacation in Tunisia. Project A-O - the RCMP’s anti-terrorism investigation - opened dialogue regarding Arar with the CIA on October 4, 2002 whereas previously it had been dealing exclusively with the FBI on what it had been previously been considered a criminal matter.

The most damning aspect of the report however, focuses on internal CSIS communications that transpired on October 10 and 11, 2002:

In October 2002, CSIS officials knew that the United States might have sent Mr. Arar to a country where he could be questioned in a “firm manner.” In a report to his superiors dated October 11, 2002, the CSIS security liaison officer (SLO) in Washington spoke of a trend they had noted lately that when the CIA or FBI cannot legally hold a terrorist subject, or wish a target questioned in a firm manner, they have them rendered to countries willing to fulfill that role. He said Mr. Arar was a case in point.

On October 10, 2002, Mr. Hooper stated in a memorandum: “I think the U.S. would like to get Arar to Jordan where they can have their way with him.”

It is obvious these people knew Arar - who became a Canadian citizen in 1991 - would be tortured. Many Kamloopsians had the opportunity to meet Mr. Ara while he lived in Kamloops with his family. I never actually met the man, but upon those occasions when I did encounter him (wandering around Home Depot or just standing in the same line at the grocery store with our respective children playing at our feet), I couldn't help imagining myself in that Syrian prison, abandoned by my own government. However our Canadian security agencies demonstrated a sickening lack of concern for Mr. Arar's welfare, and so he languished there until October of 2003.

The affair has left a trail of debris in Ottawa, and rightly so. RCMP Commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli resigned in December after providing conflicting testimony to Parliament about the case, and Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a letter of apology to Mr. Arar in January of this year.

When asked about the new details in Yellowknife today, the Prime Minister pointed the finger at the Leader of the Official Opposition. “Let's be clear,” said Mr. Harper, “we're talking about events that occurred under the previous government …those questions would be best directed to Mr. Dion.”

I can't imagine that the Prime Minister really thinks the debris field will spread to include Mr. Dion, who as Minister of Federal Intergovernmental Affairs and President of the Privy Council at the time of Arar's detainment and torture, was very probably not in the loop. The Commission has found no evidence that either Canadian security agency shared their suspicions of torture with the Liberal government of the day. However, the longer this issue holds the interest of Canadians, the longer Mr. Dion and company will face questions be held off-message.

But if we leave politics aside for a moment, I'm still left scratching my head at the CSIS and RCMP behaviour around the whole mess. What’s your take? Click on "Comments" below to share your thoughts with Right Up Your Alley: Kamloops readers.